GEO2141 : Geohazards and Risk
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
- Module Leader(s): Professor Stuart Dunning
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Mark Kincey
- Lecturer: Professor Rachel Carr
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
Geohazards pose a significant and costly threat, and one that is likely to increase as climate warms. There is no such thing as a ‘natural’ disaster, a disaster only occurs when natural processes intersect with things we value, and, when coping capacities are exceeded. Therefore, the aim of the module is to introduce students to the key concepts and methods involved in geohazard and risk research, and investigate how geographers are contributing. It will provide an overview of the natural, engineering, and interdisciplinary skills required, focusing on analysis of the impacts of natural hazards on individuals, society, and infrastructure. The module will draw on a number of real-world examples and disasters from across the globe, investigating how and why they occurred (root cause analyses), the impacts they had, and how they are researched by geographers. We will consider how geohazards/risks may be mitigated by human intervention, or adapted to through, for example, changes in behaviour and land-use practices. Finally, we will spend time looking at the emergent science of multi-risks and hazard cascades using recent deadly examples from around the world.
The module starts by building fundamental understanding around what key geohazards are, and the core concepts of risk, including hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. It will explore different ways to research risk for effective decision-making. Content is linked to a series of practicals aimed at reinforcing student understanding of key concepts and techniques, including overall risk quantification and modelling, through to specific geohazard examples and disasters. The module ends with an industry/career focussed session on Catastrophe Modelling (Cat Modelling).
Outline Of Syllabus
The module starts with a focus on on a basic understanding of risk concepts/definitions such as the difference between risk, hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. It will introduce students to key methods for identifying and measuring risk at local to global scales.
We will use a variety key geohazards and show how these processes can turn into potential disasters through their intersection with exposed and vulnerable populations. Students will explore the root causes of disasters using RCA (root cause analyses) which are often complex and cross disciplinary. Indicative geohazards to be covered include: landslides, earthquakes, landslide dam (LDOF) and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF), sediment slugs, cryospheric hazards, coastal hazards.
Students will also be introduced to the concept of multi-hazard chains / cascading hazards, and the particular range of challenges these pose in terms of their prediction, mitigation and impacts. The module ends with an industry/career focussed session on Catastrophe Modelling (Cat Modelling).
In parallel with lectures we have practical IT / hands-on sessions where students focus on the application of knowledge. In any given year the practicals cover timely content which is drawn from:
1. Risk assessment for specific geohazards or multihazards
2. Hazard mapping and quantification
3. Hazard and risk communication to varied key audiences
4. Cost-benefit analyses to mitigate risk
5. Simple numerical modelling of geohazards
6. Miroscale modelling of debris flow hazard in the laboratory
7. Data for effective risk reduction decision making pre-, syn- and post disaster
8. Root cause analyses for diverse geohazards
9. Glacier Lake Outburst Flood risk modelling
Practicals can be GIS, remote sensing, spreadsheet, online tool, or Google Earth Engine based. The assessment style allows you to write up ONE of these as the major summative report, alongside a short group pre-recorded presentation on a root-cause analysis of a disaster/hazard.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 21 | 1:00 | 21:00 | Lecture/Prac associated reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 10 | 2:00 | 20:00 | IT, and/or physical modelling |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 96:00 | 96:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will introduce key concepts across a range of spatial and temporal time-scales, and will utilise research and professional practice case-study examples.
Practicals and laboratory sessions are an experiential/learn by doing approach, teaching new skills linked to lecture concepts, and applying them to real-world use cases to enhance employability and access to further study.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 15 | 1 | M | 30 | Group pre-recorded presentation - root cause analyses |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 70 | Report based on taking forward one of the practicals. 2500 word equivalent, to a set template. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The report assesses the ability of students to develop further a taught method/practical to collect, analyse and present a range of data, and, set this within the theoretical and applied practice context. Staff will provide a range of initial suggestions for how each practical content could be developed through independent analysis, and in-person support through the related drop-in surgery sessions.
The oral presentation allows a group of students to work together to produce a ‘root cause analysis’ of a geohazard disaster, chosen with staff guidance. The RCA is presented as a pre-recorded talk (as used in e.g. Aecom recruitment) in a mini ‘disaster forensic analyses’ event where they have been tasked by the insurance industry to establish cause, and, potential future mitigation/adaptation measures. It develops oral and presentation skills and allows engagement with a wide and leading-edge selection of literature and other non-academic evidence.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- GEO2141's Timetable